Abstract
INVESTIGATIONS carried out here with the selective herbicide ioxynil (3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile)1 have shown its mode of action to be complex. The compound inhibits the Hill reaction in isolated chloroplasts, strongly uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, inhibits photo-synthetic phosphorylation and when exposed to ultraviolet light there is evidence that free radicals are produced with the loss of iodine from the moleculo2,3. In further investigations of the breakdown of ioxynil in soil and plant we have found that hydrolysis to 3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid occurs with the amide as an intermediate product. The liberation of iodine in these systems has also been demonstrated.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Wain, R. L., Nature, 200, 28 (1963).
Wain, R. L., Proc. Seventh Brit. Weed Contr. Conf., 306 (1964).
Kerr, M. W. (personal communication).
Crosby, D. G., and Vlitos, A. J., Plant Physiol., 37, 358 (1962).
Åberg, B., Ann. Agric. Coll. Sweden, 15, 37 (1947).
Cotton, M., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 57, 127 (1930).
Alexander, N. M., J. Biol. Chem., 234, 1530 (1959).
Fowden, L., Physiol. Plant., 12, 657 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WAIN, R., BALAYANNIS, P., TAYLOR, H. et al. Selective Herbicidal Activity of Iodides. Nature 209, 98 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209098a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/209098a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.